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June is Dairy Month! National Dairy Month started out as National Milk Month in 1937 as a way to promote drinking milk. It was initially created to stabilize the dairy demand when production was at a surplus, but has now developed into an annual tradition that celebrates the contributions the dairy industry has made to the world After the National Dairy Council stepped in to promote the cause, the name soon changed to “Dairy Month.”

Here are some fun facts about the dairy industry and Minnesota according to the MN Department of Agriculture:

Did you know there are roughly 350 squirts in a gallon of milk? All those squirts can add up to some powerful nutrition. Milk and cheese are a good source of high-quality protein. A diet higher in protein can help you maintain muscles as you age. Yogurt is another good source of high-quality protein and Greek-style yogurts have about double the amount of protein as traditional yogurts. Everybody should have 2 to 3 servings of dairy daily in a healthy diet.

Cows can walk upstairs but not down because a cow’s knees are unable to bend the way that is needed to walk downstairs. Here are some useful facts during June Dairy month,Consuming 3-A-Day of dairy – servings of low-fat milk, cheese, or yogurt – is an easy way for families to get a powerful punch of nutrients to help build stronger bones and healthy bodies and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. In addition, a growing body of research suggests that enjoying three servings of dairy foods a day as part of a nutrient-rich, balanced diet may help maintain a healthy weight.

Another study of nearly 5,000 men and women showed that dietary phosphorus, a nutrient found in dairy and other foods, was associated with reduced blood pressure. In addition to phosphorus, dietary calcium and magnesium were also shown to lower blood pressure significantly. So, get your 3 servings a day for better health.

After your next workout, don’t reach for a sports drink. Instead, wrap your hand around a chocolate milk! Chocolate milk is a great choice after exercise because it contains a unique mix of nutrients that help muscles refuel, which can help towards your next workout. Milk has high-quality protein to build lean muscle, calcium to keep bones strong, electrolytes such as potassium, magnesium and calcium that are lost in sweat, and fluids to help with hydration. Plus, milk is a good source of the B vitamins riboflavin; niacin and vitamin B-12 that help the body convert food into energy.

Dairy is good for everybody and great for the economy. Minnesota’s dairy industry is ranked 6th in the nation producing almost 10 billion pounds of milk in 2015. Minnesota’s dairy production is the 2nd largest livestock sector in the state and accounts for one-fourth of Minnesota’s livestock cash receipts and twelve percent of total agricultural cash receipts. The top producing county in Minnesota continues to be Stearns County but Stevens County has risen to number four.

Photos courtesy of Riverview Dairy LLC

The following businesses would like to say thank you everyone involved in the dairy industry; from cows to farmers, truck drivers to retailers:

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